Military Pentathlon Jørstadmoen 2025
September 21, 2025
Brief history of MP
The link to military working demand
Military pentathlon in the greater picture
Determinants of military readiness
Training strategies during deployment / operations to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Benefit of physical fitness for the soldier in the short and long-term perspective
Working demand of a modern soldier
1940s’ captain Henri Debrus promoted the idea
Modified the original pentathlon
The characteristics of the military pentathlon
Băițan (2021)
Băițan (2021)
Strength capacity
(Data from: Hauschild et al. 2017; Hendrickson et al. 2010; Mala et al. 2015; NATO 2019; Ojanen, Kyröläinen, et al. 2018)
Endurance capacity
(Data from: Hauschild et al. 2017; Hendrickson et al. 2010; Mala et al. 2015; NATO 2019; Ojanen, Kyröläinen, et al. 2018)
Strength capacity
Endurance capacity
Figure from (Nindl et al. 2013; Boye et al. 2017)
Technology and equipment
Fast moving to the objective
Increased physically demanding tasks
Heavy duties increase 12-22% compared to garrison duties
What is your working demand in your filed of expertise?
What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application
(Hamarsland et al. 2018; Vikmoen et al. 2020; Nindl et al. 2002)
Consequences are decreased physical/military performance
Can even jeopardize mission and lives
What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application
Recommended for soldiers both before and during deployment (Mala, Szivak, and Kraemer 2015; Kraemer and Szivak 2012)
Block periodization of different training focus (strength, endurance, power ect.) in shorter periods (mesocycles)
Shown to be a effective training model for enhancing physical fitness in athletes (Mølmen, Øfsteng, and Rønnestad 2019)
For both strength and endurance capacities (Ronnestad, Ofsteng, and Ellefsen 2018)
Lowest conflict level
Probably most feasible time to implement systematic training
Warr et al 2013
Reported training frequency during the deployment:
Performance:
Health:
Pihlainen et al 2022
During deployment:
Split into three experimental groups:
In average the soldiers performed 3.2 training session per week during the period
Overall all, the training groups improved:
In summary
Training systematic during low conflict levels seems to maintain physical fitness in soldiers
Why this training focus:
(Vaara et al. 2022; Mala et al. 2015; Knapik et al. 2012; Reilly, Morris, and Whyte 2009)
Ojanen et al 2020
Allocated to either:
Test:
Task specificity test:
1 moderate to hard session per week has shown to:
Fast changing situations, demands quick response time during deployment
Currently there are no military standards for physical training during deployment (Pihlainen et al. 2022)
Sustain physical fitness?
Maintain military readiness over time?
Soldiers need more flexibility than athletes (Mala, Szivak, and Kraemer 2015; Kraemer and Szivak 2012)
Acute situations and stressors affects soldiers readiness for training
Time restriction
Very short training session - any effect?
Kilen et al 2015
Participants 29
Performed 8 week training in a military environment
Gr 1: 9 x 15 min sessions per week (Micro)
Gr 2: 3 x 45 min session per week (Classic)
Weekly training volume was the same
Exercises:
Similar adaptations between groups after 8 weeks:
My be a good alternative during time restricted periods during deployment
Some training time is better than nothing
Advantage:
Disadvatage:
Suggestion to increase training motivation:
The drop can tell us something about the baseline
Baseline physical fitness need to be high
(Hamarsland et al. 2018; Ojanen, Häkkinen, et al. 2018; Solberg et al. 2015)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)
- During low intensity conflict periods
- During high intensity conflict periods
Training strategies:
Notably:
Hopefully, the lecture has emphasized the importance of military pentathlon exercises as an important part of your military training requirements
What you train on in pentathlons is of importance for the battlefield
What is a military operation?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants of military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application
Narrowing the scope:
Physiological fitness is defined as strength and endurance related variables
Military personnel are not being categorized into their military occupational specialties
Will not delve into biological mechanisms occurring during operations (i.e. hormones)
What is a military operation?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants of military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application
1. Military engagement
2. Crisis response
3. Major operations
What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application
(Created from: Pihlainen et al. 2023)
Aerobic performance decrements
In general some variation (shaded area = ± 7% margin)
(Created from: Pihlainen et al. 2023)
Deployment duration and country
Affecting outcomes from deployment studies:
Duration of deployment period
Countries (environments)?
Post-deployment measure
Affecting outcomes from deployment studies:
Reduction in solders endurance training during deployment
Lester 2010 - 88% vs 29%
Sharp 2008 - 80 vs 35%
Rintamaki 2012 - 11%
Warr 2013 - 57%
Aerobic training is not prioritized these years, due to low air quality
Respiratory health concerns?
Initially fitness level?
Strength - less change between pre vs during deployment
Lester 2010 - 63% vs 44%
Sharp 2008 - 58% vs 56%
Rintamaki 2012 - 13%
Warr 2013 - 67%